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Auto industry vital to Oshawa

TORONTO, July 25, 2016 /CNW/ - The auto industry is vital to Canada's economic wellbeing, and Oshawa's in particular, employing 125,400 people across Canada, including 5,600 in the Oshawa area alone, while contributing millions to taxes and local charities, new research from Unifor shows.

"The auto industry is important to the Canadian economy generally, and absolutely vital in the communities where assembly and parts plants are located," Unifor National President Jerry Dias said.

In Oshawa, 5,600 people are employed directly in the auto industry. Most work at the area's General Motors plant, where they produce the Chevrolet Impala, Equinox, Buick Regal and Cadillac XTS.

In all, a total of 262,147 vehicles were produced in Oshawa in 2015 (or 718 per day), for a total of $5.8 billion worth of vehicles and parts for the year, or $16 million per day.

Across Canada, 125,400 people are employed directly in the auto industry, producing 2,268,996 cars and light trucks (or 6,216 per day) worth $93.5 billion in 2015, (or $256 million per day).

"That kind of output of manufacturing goods, and the good jobs that come with it, is not easily replaced," Dias said. "That's why we have made securing new investment the number one priority for this year's auto talks."

Negotiations with the Detroit Three automakers begin August 10 and 11 in Toronto. Unifor has made new investment in Canada, including new product allocations, the top priority of the talks.

Besides the production and economic output, Dias pointed to the taxes paid and charitable giving of autoworkers, and their importance to the communities in which they live.

"That money goes to support services that we all depend upon, such as health care, education and social services – the sorts of things that make Canada such a great place to live," Dias said, adding that auto workers are also active in their communities, volunteering their time and donating to charity.

To review Unifor's research reports and for other background materials prepared for this year's round of auto talks, go to unifor.org/AutoTalks16.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers, including more than 40,000 in the auto industry, including 23,000 employed by the Detroit Three. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union merged.